Christians, Compassion And Your Tax Dollars

by Jack VanNoord

There seems to be a war of words being waged in this paper over the relationship between Christians  (namely pastors) and politics.  It started with the Daily Herald’s coverage of an event for local pastors which was sponsored by the conservative Family Taxpayers Network at which Senator Chris Lauzen’s was the keynote speaker.  Then, Daily Herald reader Darwin Cooper of  St. Charles wrote in concerned that  pastors were affiliated with a financially conservative group like the Family Taxpayers Network.  Mr. Cooper wrote “...perhaps the Family Taxpayers Network is more concerned about  protecting the assets of the wealthier that it is win trying to relieve the misery of the poorer in society.” 

I am only vaguely familiar with the Family Taxpayers Network and cannot speak for any members of that organization.  But I would like to take issue with Mr. Cooper’s supposition that a person either support government’s tax-supported solutions or doesn’t care about the poor and disadvantaged. 

I, for one, am very concerned about the poor and weak in our society;  yet, I call for the immediate and complete end of all of government’s efforts to wage war on poverty.  Just because I do not subscribe to government-based, one-size-fits-all attempts to solve society’s ills, that does not mean that I am indifferent to the suffering of those around me. 

In fact, it is because I care so deeply about the suffering of those around me, that I call for the government’s complete withdraw from the compassion industry.  Government only does a handful of things well.  Currently we have a war on poverty that enslaves generations in a cycle of poverty, a social security system that faces insolvency and a monopolistic public school system that shortchanges the students who most need an education in order to escape their dire situations. 

Sincere Christians everywhere seek to eliminate the suffering of the weak, the poor and the disenfranchised.  They usually agree on the what, it’s the how that causes disagreement.  In the name of efficiency and in order to ensure everyone’s participation, some Christians turn to government-based solutions.  But it is always a mistake when Christians (or anyone) chooses the government as the means  by which they demonstrate mercy to their fellow man.  The Christian’s goals and government’s means are fundamentally incompatible. 

Government is force.  George Washington reminded us of this when he said “Government is not eloquence, it is not reason.  It is force.  Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearsome master.” At the risk of being overly dramatic, all government programs, when distilled to their core are predicated on the assumption “participate or go to jail.”  Government is force. We can’t get around that fundamental fact. 

What role can force play in achieving the Christian’s goal of administering compassion to the world?  Everything I know about the Christian walk and the life of Christ gives a resounding answer:  None.  As a matter of principle, we as Christians have no choice but to seek solutions which are not government-based solutions.

The church did not surrender its responsibility to care for the week, the poor and the disenfranchised as Mr. Cooper suggests in his letter.  It was taken from them by well-intended, but misguided individuals (like Mr. Cooper) who felt that government --in it’s infinite wisdom-- knew better than you or I how to use our recourses to care for those in need. 

When  individuals are allowed to retain control over a far greater portion of their recourse, will some people foolish spend it on themselves?  Of course.  But the people of The United States are by far the most benevolent nation on earth.  Our largest non-profit chartable organization, The Salvation Army, has an annual budget of 1.2 billion dollars!  We are more than willing and able to fill the void created when government limits itself to the functions for which it was intended.  Every one --especially the recipients of the aid-- would be better off if each of us were allowed to retain control over our resources and were free to direct those resource to the charitable organizations that achieved the results we sought. 

Contrary to what Mr. Cooper suggested in his letter on Friday, Christians (including pastors) ARE to be involved in politics and economics.  Therefore, I give the following charge to pastors, Christians and all compassionate people:  go to Springfield and Washington today to stem the tide of ever-encroaching government.  Get back for us our lives and our resources so that each of us can get busy producing the fruits by which we will be known to the world.  Let government do what it does well: prosecute violations against our person and our property, operate courts and prisons and maintain a strong defense.  Let churches, families, charities, non-profits, civic groups, communities, businesses and individuals do what they do infinitely better than any bureaucracy.  Allow us to use our recourses of time and money to minister to the needs of those around us.

06-07-2000

Written by Jack VanNoord - West Dundee.